CVE-2020-15184 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 has a bug where the

alias

field on a

Chart.yaml

is not properly sanitized, potentially allowing injection of unwanted information into a chart. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for this vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2020-15184

In Helm versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2, a vulnerability exists due to improper input validation in the

alias

field of

Chart.yaml

.

What is CVE-2020-15184?

This CVE describes a bug in Helm versions 2.0.0 to 2.16.11 and 3.0.0 to 3.3.2, where the

alias

field in

Chart.yaml

is not sanitized, potentially leading to the injection of unauthorized data into a chart.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15184

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 3.7 (Low severity) with a HIGH attack complexity. It could allow an attacker to manipulate chart data, compromising the integrity of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15184

Helm's vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The

alias

field in

Chart.yaml

is not properly sanitized, enabling the injection of unauthorized data into a chart, potentially leading to security breaches.

Affected Systems and Versions

Helm versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.16.11
Helm versions >= 3.0.0, < 3.3.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the

alias

field in

Chart.yaml

to inject malicious data into a chart.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2020-15184.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Helm to version 2.16.11 or 3.3.2 to patch the vulnerability.
Manually review the

dependencies

field of untrusted charts to ensure the

alias

field is not abused.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Helm to the latest version to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement strict input validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized data injection.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of patches and updates provided by Helm to address security vulnerabilities.